Assam CM Himanta inaugurates PNG, CNG infrastructure projects in Mangaldai, Tezpur

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday virtually inaugurated a series of natural gas infrastructure projects aimed at expanding clean energy access across the state.

The projects include Domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply in Mangaldai, a CNG Mother Station at Uhani Pathar, a CNG Daughter Booster Station at Goraimari, and Industrial PNG supply to Patanjali Ayurved Limited in Tezpur.

The inauguration ceremony was held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur in the presence of ministers, senior government officials, and representatives of the gas distribution sector.

The newly launched projects are expected to provide reliable, environmentally friendly natural gas connectivity to households, commercial establishments, and industries, while supporting sustainable development and economic growth in the region.

According to official sources, more than 100 households in Mangaldai have already received PNG connections, with around 30 families currently receiving a regular gas supply. In Tezpur, where the PNG distribution network became operational in March this year, over 1,400 households have already been brought under its coverage.

The industrial PNG supply to Patanjali Ayurved Limited in Tezpur was also formally inaugurated. The company is currently consuming around 5,000 Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of natural gas per day supplied by North East Gas Distribution Company Limited. Demand is expected to increase to 6,000 SCM per day in the near future. Officials said this level of gas consumption is equivalent to the LPG usage of nearly 9,000 households.

The newly commissioned CNG Mother Station at Uhani Pathar and the CNG Daughter Booster Station at Goraimari are expected to improve the availability of compressed natural gas across Sonitpur and adjoining districts, making cleaner and more affordable fuel accessible to vehicle owners.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sarma described the projects as transformative initiatives that would strengthen Assam’s energy infrastructure and contribute to the state’s economic development.

Referring to global energy challenges arising from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Sarma noted that India had historically depended heavily on imported LPG. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had encouraged Indian refineries to increase domestic LPG production while simultaneously promoting PNG as an alternative fuel.

The Chief Minister stated that Indian refineries now produce nearly 60 to 65 per cent of the country’s LPG requirements domestically. At the same time, city gas distribution companies have accelerated efforts to expand PNG connectivity across the country.

Highlighting the example of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Sarma said the company’s shift from LPG to industrial PNG had significantly reduced its LPG consumption. He added that wider adoption of industrial PNG by other industries could substantially reduce dependence on LPG imports.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that Assam possesses abundant natural gas reserves. However, due to inadequate pipeline infrastructure, a significant portion of the gas produced by Oil India Limited remains underutilised, with some quantities being flared or capped. Expanding PNG connectivity, he said, would enable better utilisation of the state’s natural gas resources while generating additional royalty revenues for the government.

Expressing optimism about the future of city gas distribution in Assam, Sarma said that if Assam Gas Company Limited, Adani Total Gas Limited, Purba Bharati Gas Private Limited, and North East Gas Distribution Company Limited succeed in providing PNG connections to between one million and 1.5 million consumers in the coming years, it would lead to substantial savings in LPG consumption and strengthen India’s energy security.

He urged the companies to accelerate their efforts and appealed to citizens to adopt PNG for domestic cooking and CNG as an alternative transportation fuel.

Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Nilima Devi, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, North East Gas Distribution Company Limited CEO Manoj Kumar Baruah, and other dignitaries attended the programme.